Sorry for the delay, but this is still getting a bit tedious to write...

Once again this chapter is unbeta'd so I apologise for any mistakes I missed while proofing.

Part Three- Resolution

Chapter Eight- Sowing and Reaping

...

"How are you feeling, Captain Hitsugaya?" Captain Unohana asked once Toushiro sat down on the examination table for his weekly check-up.

The question was becoming a theme with everyone he encountered. Rangiku was constantly on his back, telling him not to stress himself out. Ukitake started to add incense sticks into his gift baskets. Kyoraku was needling him to kick back and drink a few cups of sake. Even Yamamoto had invited him for tea that very afternoon. Did they all think he couldn't care for himself? It was almost insulting. Yes, he was in a predicament, but that didn't mean that he had to be babied.

"Captain Hitsugaya?"

He blinked, and realised that he had been clutching his running shorts so tightly that the fabric was pulled taught over his thighs. He released his fists with a soft sigh, "Yes, what it is?"

Unohana tapped her pen against her clipboard and pursed her lips. "I asked how you were doing."

Toushiro barely stopped himself from rolling his eyes. "I'm fine."

She did not look like she believed him. "Alright, let's see how your leg is doing this week." She said as she pulled up a short stool and sat down in front of him. She made him extend his calf, rotate his ankle, and move his leg in a few other ways while she took notes and occasionally pressed various points on his thigh. He did not pretend to know exactly what she was doing, but the faster he could put away the crutch the better. She clicked her tongue softly before standing up and ushering him over to the small workout room. He did a few stretches before starting on the treadmill. Unohana stood right next to him, her eyes glued on his leg, as he started out with s slow walk.

"You've been doing your exercises?" She asked, softly.

Toushiro nodded.

"Every night?"

"Yes."

"You're limping pretty badly. Does it hurt?"

His muscles were stiff and twinged every time he put his weight on his left leg, but it didn't hurt too much. He shook his head.

"Very well; let's go a little faster."

He was trotting at an awkward speed; not quiet running, but too fast to be walking, when his thigh spasmed. His entire leg shook violently before suddenly giving out. He swore loudly and reached out to catch himself on the handrails to prevent himself from being flung backwards by the belt. Unohana had reacted even before he could and stopped the machine before too much damage could ensue, but Toushiro felt like his leg had been ripped off anew. He lowered himself to the ground, biting his bottom lip to stop himself from hissing in pain.

Unohana knelt down next to him and instructed him to lie on his back while she placed his leg on her lap and kneaded the muscle. He could feel his thigh pulsing, almost cramping, and her jabbing fingers did nothing to help. He clenched his jaw and breathed in short, fervid puffs until the searing throb subsided and Unohana began to massage his leg rather than prod it.

"What's wrong with it?" he asked after a while.

She paused for a minute. "There's nothing wrong. Your leg hasn't regressed, but there hasn't been any progress either. Your muscles are still very weak; they're not strong enough to perform the complete range of movement that your knee or hip should. The pressure from running was too much to handle, it seems. Now, if you've been doing your exercises diligently then they only other roadblocks I can see would be your stress levels, sleeping schedule, or eating habits."

Toushiro slowly rubbed his temples. "I'm sorry; Unohana, but I just can't eliminate all stressful things from my life. I'm a captain; I have things to do and to worry about."

"Then I suggest you take a leave of absence."

He pushed himself to his elbows and started down his torso at her. "That's out of the question. My division is in no state to be left behind and you should know the politics behind my current situation."

Unohana stared coolly at him and he wished that he would have held his tongue. "Well, if there's so much on your mind then I would strongly recommend that you start seeing a therapist."

Toushiro raised his eyebrows. "I... I don't think that's necessary."

"It is in your best interest to find some way to relieve all this tension. Talk to someone; it doesn't have to be a therapist. But in order for you to make a full recovery you really do need to take better care of yourself, and that includes mentally as well."

Toushiro nodded. He hated how she did that. He hated how she made him feel like a young, foolish child who couldn't do anything to help himself.

...

Toushiro hobbled into Yamamoto's office much later than he intended to. Unohana had insisted that he bathed at the Fourth so she could show him how to properly bandage his leg. She also told him to take it easy for the next few days and altered his exercise routine. His thigh was still throbbing slightly when he left, but if he concentrated, he could push it to the back of his mind.

The head-captain greeted him with a nod and invited him to join him at a low table. There was already a tea pot with two cups set on the table as well as a tray of delicate looking snacks. He tried to hide his grimace as he got to his knees; his thigh protested loudly at the bent position so he ended up sitting with his leg sticking out to the side. Toushiro tried his best to keep his face steeled, but he felt his cheeks heat anyway.

Yamamoto was quiet through all of this and wordlessly poured him a cup of tea when he was seated.

"How are your injuries, Captain Hitsugaya?" he asked only after Toushiro had taken a small sip.

"I'm recovering, but not as fast as I'd like to, sir."

Yamamoto nodded. "Your leg looks like it's giving you quite a bit of trouble."

Toushiro nodded and the room was encased in silence once more. Toushiro stared at his cup; warm steam brushed his cheeks and nose, but it was not comforting one bit.

"Sir, was there a reason why you asked me here?"

Yamamoto waited a couple beats before answering. "I wanted to speak to you about your current ... situation. I'm sure you've gotten wind that the Central Forty-six has been snooping around."

Toushiro nodded once and the small sip of tea he had drunk turned in his stomach.

"I also know that you enlisted the help of Captains Ukitake and Kyoraku to help you complete a reconnaissance mission."

Toushiro drew in a sharp breath. How had he found out? He had been careful. Yamamoto's eyes gave nothing away and Toushiro began to feel queasy; the room was too small and too hot. Hyourinmaru rumbled in an effort to calm him.

"You have gone against a direct order from both me and the Central Forty-six."

Toushiro's stomach sank and his entire body went numb. He was going to get fired for sure this time. His throat went dry despite the tea and sweat prickled the back of his neck. Fine then, if he was going to be fired for caring about his men, for trying to solve a problem that no one wanted to address, then that was how he was going to go. At least he had tried and not hidden behind old laws, regulations, politics-

"What have you found out?"

Toushiro blinked and glanced at the head-captain. "Sir?"

Yamamoto wearily rubbed the bridge of his nose. "I learnt from the last time Aizen... attacked us that you have note worthy intuition. You noticed something that not a single one of the other captain's did. Now, tell me, what were you looking into?"

Toushiro swallowed thickly. "I... I'm not getting fired?"

Yamamoto barked a short laugh. "Not yet."

He felt himself flush once more and he wrapped his good hand tightly around the tea cup to ground himself. "My men," he started, "I had a team patrolling the Rukongai to monitor hollow activity. They didn't return when I had to recall all missions... or rather they did return, but the backup we had sent had disappeared and no one could account for them. Ukitake and Kyoraku then noticed that the number of hollows in the same area had increased in by the exact amount of men that had gone missing. Furthermore, the reiatsus matched. Which lead me to believe that Aizen was behind this, going by the events that happened a hundred years ago."

Yamamoto hummed and stroked his beard. "This also coincided with his escape, yes?"

"It took place right after his escape."

"Does anyone else known of this?"

"Captains Kyoraku and Ukitake, I assume some of their men, and my lieutenant."

"This doesn't look too good for you, Captain Hitsugaya. As it stands, you seem to be heavily connected with Aizen."

"I know, sir, but, I swear, I'm not. It's all just coincidental. Whoever is pulling the strings behind all of this-"

"You don't think Aizen is behind it?"

"Uh," Toushiro's voice died in his throat. "I... I... I'm not certain."

Yamamoto released a deep breath. "It seems you've stumbled upon a perfidious circumstance. Be careful, but do what you must. The Central Forty-six is watching you closely and I don't think I can keep them occupied elsewhere for much longer."

"Sir?"

Yamamoto looked at him gravely. "I'm sure you know that you're treading on thin ice, so to speak. I agree that we have to take action against Aizen, and whatever other forces are out there, but there are those who think it's better to assign blame and fortify barriers from the inside. The Seireitei has fallen into trouble many times in the past because of this mindset. Continue with your investigation, but if or when the Central Forty-six finds out what you are up to then you better be prepared to face the consequences."

"I'm sorry for all the trouble I've caused."

Yamamoto picked up his teacup and took a long sip. "It's trouble, yes, but not caused by you."

...

That old man confuses me sometimes. Hyourinmaru sighed. He said that he agrees with us but he doesn't really condone what we're trying to do... He can either be for or against us and right now I'm not sure where he stands.

He has to be impartial; he's the head-captain. All he said was that if I continue my investigation then it's out of his hands to help me. It's more than I ever expected him to do; I should be in Muken, right now.

Somehow I think that would be kinder than what they're putting you through now. Why the hell should they restrict you so much, yet use you as a way to dig up information? If Yamamoto wants you help in figuring out what Aizen in up to then he should at least give you back control of your division.

I can't bargain with him. Toushiro sighed heavily.

You can't do anything, it seems. Hyourinmaru growled and ended the conversation when he angrily curled up in the snow.

Toushiro was tired and it was a long walk from the First Division to his office. Being unable to use shunpo was beginning to get to him. He wanted to go straight to bed, but Rangiku had made him promise to come back to the office before he turned in for the night. She said she would follow him home if he didn't, and since he didn't want her anywhere near his quarters off to the office it was.

"Your limp is worse," Rangiku noticed upon his entrance.

Toushiro hefted himself onto the couch next to her and rested his head against the backrest. "Yes, there was a setback during physiotherapy today."

"What happened?"

"I'm stressed, so my body is taking longer to heal."

"I mean what happened."

He looked at her from the corner of his eye. "I fell."

Rangiku turned to him in panic. Her eyes went wide and her mouth opened in horror. "Captain!"

Toushiro waved her off. "Unohana was there. It's fine, Matsumoto. I just need to make sure I don't put any pressure on my leg for a few days."

Her gaze travelled to his thigh. Even if she hadn't seen his scar, she stared at the exact spot it marred his thigh; a raised, rough, and angry map of tissue that circled his mid thigh. It itched when she stared at it and he couldn't help but knead his hakama.

"Do you want me to get some ice for it?"

He almost laughed. "I think I can manage that on my own."

She chuckled at her mistake. "You should probably put it up too." Rolling his eyes, he allowed Rangiku to rest his ankle on the edge of the coffee table and remove his waraji.

"Matsumoto, you don't-"

"It's the lieutenant's job to take care of the captain."

He sighed. That wasn't really in the job description, though.

"What about your arm?"

"My arm is fine."

"Captain..."

"I'm serious; my leg is the only problem. You can ask Unohana if you don't believe me."

"Speaking of Unohana, she sent a message while you were with Yamamoto. We need to talk."

Toushiro rubbed his temples. "You are not going to play therapist."

"I'm not. All I'm asking is that you speak to me, if not as anything, then as a friend."

Toushiro hesitated and ran his hand through his hair. "You have your own things to worry about. You don't need me dumping all my shit on you."

Rangiku narrowed her eyes and clenched her jaw. She turned away before Toushiro could say anything and stood from the couch. She left the room without a word and he thought that she had finally reached her boiling point and finally left him. He closed his eyes and laced his fingers together and placed his hands on his lap. He pushed her away for good reason; if she got too close she would end up getting hurt – like Momo. She didn't need any more pain and suffering; she had been through more than enough. He wouldn't let himself add anymore hurt to Rangiku's plate. If that meant shutting her out, then he would.

A dull thud on the coffee table made him open his eyes. Rangiku had set a bottle of sake in front of him and placed two drinking saucers beside it. He raised an eyebrow when she took her place beside him on the couch.

"What is this?"

"We need to talk. And if you don't feel completely comfortable to talk to me then this should help."

"Are you insane? You want me to drink away my problems like some drunkard-"

She laughed, humourlessly and Toushiro cut himself off.

"I'm sorry; I didn't mean it like that..." he took a deep breath. "I should have been there for you when Ichimaru... when-"

"Yes, you should have." She leaned over and poured a small amount of sake into one of the saucers. "But who cares. I'm here for you now. Talk to me."

Toushiro sighed and scrubbed his face with his palms. He couldn't unburden himself and place everything on his lieutenant's shoulders. It wasn't fair for her to have to share the blame when everything that had happened was his fault and his alone. She didn't deserve it. But, he looked at her face then at the saucer she was holding out to him, maybe it would be okay, just this once. They would just be talking, right? He wouldn't ask her to do anything. And if anyone knew what he was going through it was Rangiku. As long as she didn't' take action for anything he told her, as long as she spoke to him as well, as long as they helped each other.

"Fine, Matsumoto, let's talk. But that means I want you to speak as well. I'm not the only one going to unload my feelings so you better cooperate." He grudgingly took the sake and swallowed it in one gulp. He gagged as soon as it hit his tongue and burned its way into his stomach. How did people willingly do this?

Rangiku giggled at his expression and took a shot of her own, barely wincing.

...

Toushiro had never been drunk before. His head was buzzing and he felt relaxed, happy even. He had told Rangiku about what Yamamoto said to him, about Central Forty-six, about Unohana and his leg, and about Momo. They talked late into the night and even though he was drunk he was not drunk enough to pass out on the office couch. So, he sent Rangiku home and hobbled off to his own quarters.

Hyourinmaru hummed contentedly as Toushiro made his way back to his quarters. The sky was cloudless and the moon was full. The buzzing in his head made it a little harder to walk straight, but with a lot of concentration, and help from his crutch, he made it home without any incident. However, he could have sworn that he saw someone following him out of the corner of his eye. He spun, nearly losing his balance, but, of course, there was no one there. He saw no one and he couldn't feel any reiatsu. Huffing, he slowly turned back around and continued on, but he couldn't shake the feeling that there was someone trailing him. He glanced over his shoulder; if anything it was probably one of the omnitsukido. He expected to see a flash of black, a mask, even a small dagger, but what he saw, what he thought he saw, made his breath catch in his throat.

It was the alcohol playing tricks on his vision because there was no way that Momo could be following him. He only saw a glimpse of her before she faded into the darkness behind him, but he could recognise her bun and her glassy, brown eyes, anywhere. It could not have been Momo; she was gone with Aizen, she left him, betrayed him... he felt his hands curl themselves into fists and his body was trembling. He brought his good arm and scrubbed his face with a palm. It was the sake, he told himself as his throat tightened; Momo was gone.

The buzzing in the back of his head faded and his heart sped up while his stomach bubbled and frothed, like a witch's cauldron. Hyourinmaru urged him to turn back around and continue home, but his feet were made of wooden planks and he tripped. His crutch hit the ground with a jarring crack and he wasn't too far behind. He remained on the ground, shaking and trying to calm himself. This was nothing to get worked up about; Momo could not have been following him. She was missing, along with Aizen. He was drunk, he wasn't thinking straight. He cursed himself for drinking all that sake. His head should have been clear; as a captain he should always be alert and ready for anything. He had messed up again, he failed, he-

Hyourinmaru silenced him with a growl and told him to get up. It took him a while to pull himself back to his feet and even as he limped back home he knew that he wasn't going to sleep that night.

...

"Yet another trap, old friend?"

"And you keep on falling perfectly into them. It's as if you want to lose."

"This game has yet to reach its climax. I suggest you don't get too comfortable."

As always, I'd really love to hear what you guys think :)

Motivation is low for this one, but I'm committed to finish no matter what.

-Mymomomo